2006-07-06 Cost of Government Commission Minutes

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Ms. Stremski brought up that there is only one trainer to train all of the transfer station attendants. Ms. Nicholson said that Mr. Dworsky had also spoken about the need for cross - training due to only one trainer being available. She said she was not clear on what the trainer actually does and whether it was specific to Solid Waste. The Chair asked if a training program needed to be established, and Ms. Nicholson said yes, as training was definitely an issue, as well as cross - training and the lack of training. Mr. Sakaguchi stated that there may be a union problem involving what duties the workers can and cannot do and that everyone's responsibilities may need to be broadened. Ms. Provalenko noted that in the previous minutes, Mr. Dworsky said that they were trying to set up a training system to train transfer station attendants to move up to being equipment operators, so it may be that the trainer cross - trains employees so they are multi- functional. The Chair questioned whether the problem was the quantity of trainers or not having a program, and Ms. Nicholson said that quantity seemed to be the issue and that possibly additional trainers were needed so that the Solid Waste staff could be cross - trained. Motion: Ms. Nicholson moved that they recommend additional trainers for the Solid Waste Division, and Ms. Stremski seconded the motion. Discussion: Ms. Stremski said they should include this in their recommendations so that the issue will be looked at and a decision made on how many trainers are needed. Vote: All members except Mr. Sakaguchi voted aye on the motion. Mr. Sakaguchi abstained. He said he is not opposed to the motion, but his wife is working with a business group to develop a training program for potentially in- service training, and he did not want any appearance of conflict. The Chair said that the motion passed, as the majority voted aye. Motion and Vote: Ms. Nicholson noted that Mr. Dworsky wanted employees to be subject to random drug testing, and she so moved. The Chair said she could make that motion, but the issue would involve the union. Ms. Stremski seconded the motion, clarifying that the drug testing should be random and include current employees, not just potential new hires. All members voted aye on the motion. The commissioners discussed how some Solid Waste employees have to travel to Kona to work, incurring mileage reimbursement costs, as Kona is not being fully staffed and there is no housing provision. They queried whether it would be cheaper to provide housing for these employees or to pay for their mileage and overtime compensation. Ms. Nicholson mentioned that it is cheap to fly from Hilo to Kona, which a lot of people are now doing rather than driving. The Chair said part of the problem is that when an employee is assigned to a transfer station, he establishes seniority there and it becomes his home base. As he moves up in seniority, he can pick his days off. So there is a dilemma if an employee is offered a position